­“Heading to the Russian KHL All-Star Game in Chelyabinsk,” Datsyuk wrote on Twitter, before adding he will fly to North America shortly after.

Datsyuk has notched up 11 goals and 25 assists in 31 games for CSKA Moscow during his lockout stay in Russia. He has also scored three goals and made five assists in three games for the Russian national team.

The 34 year old will team up with New Jersey Devils wing Ilya Kovalchuk as the league confirmed Thursday both will be playing for Team West. The other NHLers, who were supposed to take part in the event, are already in America preparing for the truncated season.

The NHL unanimously supported the new collective bargaining agreement on players’ pay and conditions on Wednesday with ratification by the Players’ Association, due Saturday, the last remaining obstacle to completing a 10-year deal.